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Marco Veratti.

PSG set for major injury boost ahead of United clash

Marco Veratti is in line for a return ahead of schedule.

MARCO VERATTI COULD return to action for Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday’s Coupe de France match against Villefranche, head coach Thomas Tuchel has confirmed.

Veratti injured his ankle in PSG’s 9-0 league win against Guingamp last month, with a downbeat Thomas Tuchel describing the injury as “serious” and “the worst thing that could have happened to us.”

This raised fears that Veratti would miss the first leg of PSG’s Champions League tie with Manchester United on 12 February, further depleting a midfield already without the ostracised Adrien Rabiot. 

The Italy international resumed training on Monday, however, having only missed three matches.

Tuchel is prepared to play the midfielder in the cup trip against their third-tier opponents, provided he comes through their latest practice session unscathed.

“We have to decide today [Tuesday] if it’s possible for him to play again,” he told a news conference.

PSG will definitely be without Neymar, who is out for 10 weeks with a foot injury, and his absence coincided with their first Ligue 1 defeat of the season against Lyon last Sunday.

Despite missing the Brazil star’s creativity, Tuchel has ruled out asking Kylian Mbappe to adapt his game and try to fill in for his team-mate.

“I don’t want Kylian to play like Neymar and keep the ball,” he said. “Kylian is incredibly dangerous in the final move and I want him to stay that way.”

Tuchel expects his senior players to make sure PSG do not show any complacency against Villefranche, who knocked out last season’s surprise finalists Les Herbiers in the last round.

“I expect a match with great domination and possession of the ball. They’re going to want to play on the counter-attack. We must play with seriousness and vigilance,” he said.

“It’s a decisive match, we definitely want to win and it’s our responsibility to win.

“We have experienced players like Gianluigi Buffon, Dani Alves and Thiago [Silva]. They play every match with the same state of mind.”

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    Mute Guybrush Threepwood
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    Oct 12th 2017, 3:38 PM

    No interest in the game now but was a Newcastle fan at the time and have to say it’s hilarious to hear Shearer say that as you could practically see him shaking when Keane squared up to him.

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    Mute Anton Friendo
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    Oct 12th 2017, 3:43 PM

    @Guybrush Threepwood: Fun times

    its boring now

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    Mute Stephen Lyons
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    Oct 12th 2017, 5:08 PM

    @Anton Friendo: Yeah that type of game died out in the absence of the likes of Keane, Gatusso, De Jong etc. unfortunately..

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    Mute Guybrush Threepwood
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    Oct 12th 2017, 5:27 PM

    @Guybrush Threepwood: It was the norm in school to support English soccer. Enlightenment happens only when you leave the education system.

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    Mute Niall Browne
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    Oct 12th 2017, 4:22 PM

    If you read craig bellamys autobiography, he played in that game , he said Shearer was the last one off the pitch at the end of the game because he knew Keane was waiting for him

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    Mute Gerry Ivie
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    Oct 12th 2017, 7:31 PM

    @Niall Browne: Bellamy is going to say that isn’t he? Seeing as Shearer battered him in Dawson St when they were over here. Bad mouthed him too when he thought a transfer away from St James Park was happening. Nearly shit himself when it fell through and he had to show up there for training.

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    Mute Niall
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    Oct 12th 2017, 9:25 PM

    @Gerry Ivie: it was Keith Gillespie that Shearer punched in Dublin.

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    Mute James Murphy
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    Oct 12th 2017, 6:03 PM

    Probably a lot bias here. Both great players and true warriors representing their respective teams. Love Keane but also like Shearer for being a great number 9. Hope Kane breaks his record though!

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    Mute Gustave H
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    Oct 12th 2017, 8:33 PM

    Grown ups arguing about one man’s ability to beat up another when the know neither and have never seen either actually fight.

    The level of cringe is spine tingling.

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    Mute Eoin Long
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    Oct 12th 2017, 11:38 PM

    @Gustave H: I don’t think anyone is arguing here. Everyone seems to be in agreement that Shearer looked genuinely afraid of Keane during that particular confrontation. Which was understandable to an extent, because Keane’s lack of self control and reckless abandon was rarely more evident than during that game.

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    Mute Stephen Lyons
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    Oct 12th 2017, 4:30 PM

    Funny considering that you could visibly see the point when Shearer sh*t himself at the time

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    Mute Stonerpug
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    Oct 12th 2017, 3:38 PM

    You wouldn’t have had it in you Alan. Stick to throwing balls at him from a safe distance you coward.

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    Mute The Bloody Nine
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    Oct 12th 2017, 4:50 PM

    @Stonerpug: it was Keane who threw the ball as well as the punch. Shearer did the smart thing and stood there while Roy had a meltdown and got himself sent off in the last minute for no reason.

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    Mute O'Brien Michael
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    Oct 12th 2017, 10:58 PM

    @The Bloody Nine: You are 100% Correct.Shearer was too smart for that nonsense

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